Meet the characters and cast of Northanger Abbey

Click on any of the major characters in Northanger Abbey to learn more about how they fit in the story, and also about the careers of the actors who portray them.

Mr. Morland

A clergyman, Mr. Morland is a very respectable man.

Played by:Gerry O'Brien

Gerry O'Brien has a variety of television credits such as Holby City, Trouble in Paradise, and The Tudors. His many film credits include Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, Lassie, King Arthur, and Veronica Guerin. He will appear in The Old Curiosity Shop, currently in production for Masterpiece classic.

Mrs. Morland

The mother of James and Catherine among others, Mrs. Morland has common sense and a good temper.

Played by:Julia Dearden

British actress Julia Dearden can be seen in the 1992 Masterpiece production of Clarissa. Besides numerous stage performances in London and Sheffield, her film and television credits include Wild About Harry, The Most Fertile Man in Ireland, Titanic Town, The Gravy Train and Rag Nymph.

Catherine Morland

At age 17, Catherine Morland has an ordinary life and a feverish imagination thanks to her reading of gothic novels. The devoted sister of James Morland, sheltered Catherine is whisked away to Bath where she encounters a new world and a new romance.

Played by:Felicity Jones

British actress Felicity Jones was born in 1984 and grew up in Birmingham, England, where her enthusiasm for drama began at an early age. She made her television debut at the age of 12, and went on to play Ethel Hallow in the series The Worst Witch and its spin-off Weirdsister College. At age 15, she joined the cast of the BBC's radio drama The Archers as Emma, a role for which she is probably most well known. She also played the part of Fanny in the BBC Radio 4 adaptation of Mansfield Park. In 2006, Jones graduated from Wadham College in Oxford, where she studied English literature and language while continuing to act in student plays. Jones will next appear in Brideshead Revisited alongside Emma Thompson.

James Morland

The brother of Catherine, James Morland is engaged to Isabella Thorpe.

Played by:Hugh O'Conor

Irish-born actor Hugh O'Conor began acting at the early age of eight. As a young man, he co-starred with Liam Neeson in the British film Lamb. O'Conor went on to appear in the films Da, My Left Foot, The Three Musketeers, The Young Poisoner's Handbook, and Chocolat. O'Conor's father is the Irish pianist John O'Conor.

General Tilney

The only surviving parent to his three children, General Tilney is stern and rigid, and appears to Catherine to be an enigma.

Played by:Liam Cunningham

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Liam Cunningham was an electrician before an advertisement for an acting school caught his eye. He is known for his role in The Wind That Shakes the Barley, for which he won "Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Feature Film" at the Irish Film and Television Awards. Cunningham has appeared on Masterpiece in Shooting the Past and Prime Suspect 6. Besides acting, Cunningham has a passion for Formula One racing.

Frederick Tilney

The oldest son of General Tilney and presumed heir of Northanger Abbey, Frederick Tilney is an army officer with a penchant for flirting with pretty women.

Played by:Mark Dymond

Northanger Abbey is English born actor Mark Dymond's first Masterpiece performance. He has had a recurring role on the Irish television series The Clinic and has appeared in films such as Die Another Day, House of Mirth, Until Death, and Land of the Blind. Dymond is married to actress Jo Bourne-Taylor.

Henry Tilney

A clergyman and the youngest son in the Tilney family, Henry is clever, funny, and a flirt. Is he the worthy object of Catherine's affections, or has she only concocted a fantasy?

Played by:J.J. Feild

Born in Boulder, Colorado, J.J. Feild moved to England as a baby, but has frequently returned to the United States. Growing up, he often performed in school plays, and after traveling to Tibet at age seventeen, he returned to attend the Webber Douglas Academy of Dramatic Art in London. Feild has acted in many Masterpiece productions including: The Railway Children, Poirot, The Secret Life of Mrs. Beeton, and The Ruby in the Smoke. On film, Feild has appeared in Last Orders, O Jerusalem, and Love Actually among others.

Eleanor Tilney

Eleanor Tilney, the sister of Henry, is a friend and confidante for Catherine during her time at Northanger Abbey.

Played by:Catherine Walker

Irish actress Catherine Walker trained at the Gaiety School of Acting in Dublin. In addition to a number of stage productions in Dublin and with the Royal Shakespeare Company, Walker has had recurring roles on several television productions including The Clinic, Waking the Dead, and Holby City

Mrs. Thorpe

Mrs. Thorpe is proud of all her children, but exclaims that Isabella is her most handsome child.

Played by:Bernadette McKenna

Bernadette McKenna's television credits include Shadows and Angels, and she has appeared in the films Broken Things and Lamb.

Isabella Thorpe

Isabella is engaged to Catherine's brother James, and is eager to set Catherine up with her brother John. Isabella and Catherine become friends while Catherine is in Bath.

Played by:Carey Mulligan

Born in 1985, Carey Mulligan's first major appearance was as Kitty Bennett in the 2005 film version of Pride and Prejudice with Keira Knightley. She has appeared on Masterpiece in Bleak House and in The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard. Her other television credits include Waking the Dead, Doctor Who, and My Boy Jack, scheduled to run on Masterpiece in 2008.

Maria Thorpe

Maria Thorpe is one of the Thorpe daughters.

Played by:Shauna Taylor

Shauna Taylor makes her debut in Northanger Abbey.

Anne Thorpe

Anne Thorpe is one of the Thorpe daughters.

Played by:Sophie Vavasseur

Sophie Vavasseur, born in Dublin in 1992, made her cinematic debut with Pierce Brosnan in Evelyn. She has also appeared in the film Becoming Jane, and stars in the forthcoming Masterpiece production The Old Curiosity Shop.

John Thorpe

A proud and arrogant young man, John Thorpe takes an interest in Catherine.

Played by:William Beck

Born in Wales, William Beck has had recurring roles on television in Red Cap, Vital Signs, and Robin Hood.

Mr. Allen

Neighbors and friends of the Morlands, Mr. and Mrs. Allen invite Catherine to Bath. Mr. Allen in particular is a kind man, who gently ushers Catherine into the grand world of Bath.

Played by:Desmond Barrit

Originally an accountant, Welsh-born Desmond Barrit was a relative latecomer to professional acting, when at 35 he started working in children's theatre. A member of The Royal Shakespeare Company since 1988, Desmond Barrit may best be known for his roles in A Christmas Carol, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Alice Through the Looking Glass. He has also had roles in the Masterpiece productions Madame Bovary, Oliver Twist, and Poirot. A gifted comedian, Barritt received the Laurence Olivier Theatre Award in 1992 for Best Comedy performance in Comedy of Errors.

Mrs. Allen

Neighbors and friends of the Morlands, Mr. and Mrs. Allen invite Catherine to Bath. Mrs. Allen is notable for her love of fashion, something she tries to educate Catherine about in Bath.

Played by:Sylvestra Le Touzel

Sylvestra Le Touzel was born on Jersey in the Channel Islands, where her family has lived for many generations. She began acting as a young child and made her first television appearance in the British series Doctor Who. She has appeared in Masterpiece's The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries. Her most recent film appearance was in 2006's Amazing Grace.